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was then wanting. This was a profperous Soul. I fay no more to this, then as our Saviour faid in another cafe to the Lawyer, Luke. 10. 37, Go, and do likewife.

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4. Then the Soul profpereth, when in conjunction with all thefe, it is more and more Rooted in Chrift. So as notwithstanding all our growth in grace, and all our exercise of grace, the life we live, fo far as it is gratious (and it ought to be fo, in all things) is more in Chrift, and from Chrift, and what we expect to receive from Christ, then in, and from our felves, when we think with our felves as the Apostle faid, Gal. 2. 20, Nevertheless live, yet not I, but Chrift li veth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Therefore intereft Chrift in all that ye do. Look unto him for affiftance in every thing (Phil. 4. 13, I can do all things, through Chrift which strengtheneth me.) and for acceptance of all, 1 Pet. 2.5, Te alfo as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jefus Chrift. Let us go on, thus leaning upon our Beloved. The heart of Chrift was much upon this, that all that are in a flate of Union with him, should learn this, and live under the actual confideration of it, Joh. 15. 4,5, Abide in me, and I in you; as the Branch cannot bear fruit

of it felf, except it abide in the Vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the Vine,

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ye are the Branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit for without me, ye can do nothing. And the more this is learned, and accordingly reduced into practice, the more the Soul will profper. It is worth our noting that true growth is noted by our growing in Chrift. Eph. 4. 15, But Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,which is the Head, even Chrift. 2 Pet. 3. 18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord, and Saviour Jefus Chrift. As if to grow in parts, in duties, or any thing elfe, without growing in him, were a fwelling, rather then a growth. The fwelling of the Leg, or Arm, is no good fign that the party grows ftronger. It is thus indeed: whiles we are full of our own ftrength, our Souls profper not, 1 Sam. 2.9, for by strength fball no Man prevail. Therefore a profpering Soul, though it hath, and when it hath put on the whole Armour of God, yet it is not to trust thereto, but to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. 6. 10. Certainly, the more deeply this principle is engraven in our hearts, and the more we act according to it, the better it will be with us. He that laboured more abundant ly then they all, that could fay, He had fi

nifbed his course, fought the good fight, and kept the faith, was he that faid, Not I, but the grace of God that was with me, I Cor.15. 10. Happy are thofe Souls, and more happy they are like to be, that are fo trained up in a continual fenfibleness of their own infufficiency, as to what is fpiritually good, that still there is a looking up for more fupplies, that we may exercise what we have, Phil. 1. 19,-and the fupply of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift. What Paul prayed for the Theffalonians, 2 Thef. 3. 5, The Lord dired 3.5, your hearts into the love of God, and the patient waiting for Chrift. i. e. into the exercife thereof. A Soul that would profper, muft pray for it felf. Yea, and for that which Paul defired others to pray on his behalf, Eph. 6. 18, 19, Praying alwaies with all Prayer, and Supplication,that utterance may be given unto me. Paul had already a great gift of utterance, and memory, and had great experience of Gods prefence with him, in the exercise thereof, having preached fo well, and fo long, now twenty five years together, yet defires their prayers, not only for the continuance of these gifts, but also for the actual exercise of them, fo often as ever there was occafion of using them. And no doubt Paul did pray thus for himself, as often as he was to preach, and as little doubt there is, but that he did his

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work fo much the better for it, and with the better fuccefs.

Thus ye have, what I have to fay, concerning the first thing propofed: What con cerns the profperity of the Soul in general, wherein it confifts, and when a Man may be faid to profper...

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SERMON IV.

Now proceed more particularly to demonftrate, that in truth, and reality, the Soul doth profper, according to the degree, and measure, wherein the Soul abounds in them.

1. The Soul profpers, when it is full of Praifes to God: So kept, from day to day, under the Law of thankfulness, that it a bounds in thanksgiving to God. Col. 2. 7, Abounding therein with thanksgiving. It is poffible, fome may think otherwise, that this is no fuch great matter, but let these following particulars be duely confidered, and I hope ye will acknowledge it to be as ĺ fay. Confider then,

1. Though it be true, that there are some folemn Seasons, which call for folemn Praifes, when God hath abounded in the expreffions of his love to us, and Fatherly care for us, in fome fpecial favour, beftowed upon us, giving us to experience the truth of what David found, Pfal. 31. 7. I will rejoice, and be glad in thy mercy, for thou hast confidered my trouble, and known my Soul in adverfity. Though

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